按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ut lately the tomb of the grandfather and father of the young queen； who reposed to right and left of the high altar。 Joan； clad in the royal robe； with the crown upon her head； uttered her oath of fidelity between the hands of the apostolic legate in the presence of her husband； who stood behind her simply as a witness； just like the other princes of the blood。 Among the prelates with their pontifical insignia who formed the brilliant following of the envoy； there stood the Archbishops of Pisa； Bari； Capua； and Brindisi； and the reverend fathers Ugolino； Bishop of Castella； and Philip； Bishop of Cavaillon； chancellor to the queen。 All the nobility of Naples and Hungary were present at this ceremony； which debarred Andre from the throne in a fashion at once formal and striking。 Thus； when they left the church the excited feelings of both parties made a crisis imminent； and such hostile glances； such threatening words were exchanged； that the prince； finding himself too weak to contend against his enemies； wrote the same evening to his mother； telling her that he was about to leave a country where from his infancy upwards he had experienced nothing but deceit and disaster。
Those who know a mother's heart will easily guess that Elizabeth of Poland was no sooner aware of the danger that threatened her son than she travelled to Naples； arriving there before her coming was suspected。 Rumour spread abroad that the Queen of Hungary had come to take her son away with her； and the unexpected event gave rise to strange comments： the fever of excitement now blazed up in another direction。 The Empress of Constantinople； the Catanese； her two daughters； and all the courtiers； whose calculations were upset by Andre's departure； hurried to honour the arrival of the Queen of Hungary by offering a very cordial and respectful reception； with a view to showing her that； in the midst of a court so attentive and devoted； any isolation or bitterness of feeling on the young prince's part must spring from his pride； from an unwarrantable mistrust； and his naturally savage and untrained character。 Joan received her husband's mother with so much proper dignity in her behaviour that； in spite of preconceived notions； Elizabeth could not help admiring the noble seriousness and earnest feeling she saw in her daughter…in… law。 To make the visit more pleasant to an honoured guest； fetes and tournaments were given； the barons vying with one another in display of wealth and luxury。 The Empress of Constantinople； the Catanese； Charles of Duras and his young wife； all paid the utmost attention to the mother of the prince。 Marie； who by reason of her extreme youth and gentleness of character had no share in any intrigues； was guided quite as much by her natural feeling as by her husband's orders when she offered to the Queen of Hungary those marks of regard and affection that she might have felt for her own mother。 In spite； however； of these protestations of respect and love； Elizabeth of Poland trembled for her son； and； obeying a maternal instinct； chose to abide by her original intention； believing that she should never feel safe until Andre was far away from a court in appearance so friendly but in reality so treacherous。 The person who seemed most disturbed by the departure； and tried to hinder it by every means in his power； was Friar Robert。 Immersed in his political schemes； bending over his mysterious plans with all the eagerness of a gambler who is on the point of gaining； the Dominican； who thought himself on the eve of a tremendous event； who by cunning； patience； and labour hoped to scatter his enemies and to reign as absolute autocrat； now falling suddenly from the edifice of his dream； stiffened himself by a mighty effort to stand and resist the mother of his pupil。 But fear cried too loud in the heart of Elizabeth for all the reasonings of the monk to lull it to rest： to every argument he advanced she simply said that while her son was not king and had not entire unlimited power； it was imprudent to leave him exposed to his enemies。 The monk； seeing that all was indeed lost and that he could not contend against the fears of this woman； asked only the boon of three days' grace； at the end of which time； should a reply he was expecting have not arrived； he said he would not only give up his opposition to Andre's departure； but would follow himself； renouncing for ever a scheme to which he had sacrificed everything。
Towards the end of the third day； as Elizabeth was definitely making her preparations for departure； the monk entered radiant。 Showing her a letter which he had just hastily broken open； he cried triumphantly
〃God be praised； madam！ I can at last give you incontestable proofs of my active zeal and accurate foresight。〃
Andre's mother； after rapidly running through the document； turned her eyes on the monk with yet some traces of mistrust in her manner； not venturing to give way to her sudden joy。
〃Yes； madam；〃 said the monk； raising his head； his plain features lighted up by his glance of intelligence〃 yes； madam； you will believe your eyes； perhaps； though you would never believe my words： this is not the dream of an active imagination； the hallucination of a credulous mind； the prejudice of a limited intellect； it is a plan slowly conceived； painfully worked out； my daily thought and my whole life's work。 I have never ignored the fact that at the court of Avignon your son had powerful enemies； but I knew also that on the very day I undertook a certain solemn engagement in the prince's name； an engagement to withdraw those laws that had caused coldness between the pope and Robert； who was in general so devoted to the Church； I knew very well that my offer would never be rejected； and this argument of mine I kept back for the last。 See； madam； my calculations are correct； your enemies are put to shame and your son is triumphant。〃
Then turning to Andre； who was just corning in and stood dumbfounded… at the threshold on hearing the last words； he added
〃Come； my son； our prayers are at last fulfilled you are king。〃
〃King！〃 repeated Andre； transfixed with joy； doubt； and amazement。
〃King of Sicily and Jerusalem： yes； my lord； there is no need for you to read this document that brings the joyful； unexpected news。 You can see it in your mother's tears； she holds out her arms to press you to her bosom； you can see it in the happiness of your old teacher； he falls on his knees at your feet to salute you by this title； which he would have paid for with his own blood had it been denied to you much longer。〃
〃And yet；〃 said Elizabeth； after a moment's mournful reflection； 〃if I obey my presentiments； your news will make no difference to our plans for departure。〃
〃Nay； mother；〃 said Andre firmly； 〃you would not force me to quit the country to the detriment of my honour。 If I have made you feel some of the bitterness and sorrow that have spoiled my own young days because of my cowardlyenemies； it is not from a poor spirit； but because I was powerless； and knew it； to take any sort of striking vengeance for their secret insults； their crafty injuries； their underhand intrigues。 It was not because my arm wanted strength； but because my head wanted a crown。 I might have put an end to some of these wretched beings； the least dangerous maybe； but it would have been striking in the dark； the ringleaders would have escaped； and I should never have really got to the bottom of their infernal plots。 So I have silently eaten out my own heart in shame and indignation。 Now that my sacred rights are recognised by the Church； you will see； my mother； how these terrible barons； the queen's counsellors； the governors of the kingdom； will lower their heads in the dust： for they are threatened with no sword and no struggle； no peer of their own is he who speaks； but the king； it is by him they are accused； by the law they shall be condemned； and shall suffer on the scaffold。〃
〃O my beloved son；〃 cried the queen in tears； 〃I never doubted your noble feelings or the justice of your claims； but when your life is in danger； to what voice can I listen but the voice of fear？ what can move my counsels but the promptings of love？〃
〃Mother； believe me； if the hands and hearts alike of these cowards had not trembled； you would have lost your son long ago。〃
〃It is not violence that I fear； my son； it is treachery。〃
〃My life； like every man's； belongs to God； and the lowest of sbirri may take it as I turn the corner of the street； but a king owes something to his people。〃
The poor mother long tried to bend the resolution of Andre by reason and entreaties； but when she had spoken her last word and shed her last tear； she summoned Bertram de Baux； chief…justice of the kingdom； and Marie； Duchess of Durazzo。 Trusting in the old man's wisdom and the girl's innocence； she commended her son to them in the tenderest and most affecting words； then drawing from her own hand a ring richly wrought； and taking the prince aside； she slipped it upon his finger； saying in a voice that trembled with emotion as she pressed him to her heart
〃My son； as you refuse to come with me； here is a wonderful talisman； which I would not use before